Printing device with modular assembly including elastic elements

Abstract

A printing device and method is described comprising: controlling movement of a printing medium along a printing medium path to position the printing medium relative to at least one printhead to allow printing on the printing medium by the at least one printhead; and applying a plurality of respective elastic forces in a direction substantially perpendicular to the printing medium path, wherein the respective elastic forces are applied by a plurality of elastic elements of a modular assembly arranged laterally across a width of the printing medium path, wherein the printing medium acts against the elastic forces of the respective elastic elements of the modular assembly.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A printing device comprising:
 a modular assembly comprising a plurality of modules and a plurality of elastic elements arranged laterally across a width of a printing medium path, each of said elastic elements applying a respective elastic force to a corresponding one of the modules in a direction substantially perpendicular to the printing medium path; and 
 a mounting arrangement for receiving a printing medium, the plurality of modules disposed between the printing medium path and the plurality of elastic elements to prevent the plurality of elastic elements from contacting the printing medium, 
 wherein, in use: 
 the printing medium is movable along the printing medium path, wherein the movement is controllable to position the printing medium relative to at least one printhead to allow printing on the printing medium by the at least one printhead; 
 the elastic elements of the modular assembly each apply the respective elastic force against a corresponding portion of the printing medium; and 
 the printing medium acts against the elastic forces of the respective elastic elements of the modular assembly. 
 
     
     
       2. The printing device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising
 a modular roller assembly comprising a plurality of rollers arranged laterally across the width of the printing medium path. 
 
     
     
       3. The printing device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the plurality of rollers of the modular roller assembly are coupled to respective ones of the plurality of modules. 
     
     
       4. The printing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the printing medium acts against the elastic forces of the respective elastic elements using local tension forces caused by one or more forces applied to the printing medium along length of the printing medium path; and
 wherein the printing medium acting against the elastic forces reduces variations in net forces on the printing medium across the width of the printing medium. 
 
     
     
       5. The printing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the printing device is a large format printer. 
     
     
       6. The printing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a number of elastic elements and/or dimensions of some or all of the elastic elements in the modular assembly are configured based on a triangular tension profile. 
     
     
       7. The printing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a respective elastic constant of each respective elastic element is selected such that the elastic force of the respective elastic element is at least partially overcome when a respective local tension force applied by the printing medium is larger than the respective elastic constant. 
     
     
       8. The printing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 the printing medium applies a tension force against the elastic forces; and 
 the elastic forces are applied in order to maintain a tension peak below a first threshold. 
 
     
     
       9. The printing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the modular assembly further comprises one or more stoppers for one or more respective elastic elements, wherein the stoppers are configured to limit the elastic force of the respective elastic element to a second threshold. 
     
     
       10. The printing device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising the at least one printhead. 
     
     
       11. The printing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the modules includes an upper surface and a lower surface; 
 the upper surface is adjacent to the printing medium path; and 
 at least one of the elastic elements is adjacent the lower surface. 
 
     
     
       12. The printing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of modules moves independently from remaining ones of the plurality of modules. 
     
     
       13. The printing device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of modules moves in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the printing medium path. 
     
     
       14. A modular assembly comprising:
 a plurality of modules and a plurality of elastic elements arranged laterally across a width of a printing medium path, each of said elastic elements applying a respective elastic force to corresponding ones of the modules in a direction substantially perpendicular to the printing medium path; 
 wherein, in use: 
 the elastic elements of the modular assembly each have an elastic force acting against a corresponding portion of a printing medium; 
 the plurality of modules disposed between the printing medium path and the plurality of elastic elements to prevent the plurality of elastic elements from contacting the printing medium; and 
 the elastic forces of the respective elastic elements of the modular assembly act against the printing medium. 
 
     
     
       15. A method comprising:
 controlling movement of a printing medium along a printing medium path to position the printing medium relative to at least one printhead to allow printing on the printing medium by the at least one printhead; and 
 applying a plurality of respective elastic forces in a direction substantially perpendicular to the printing medium path, wherein the respective elastic forces are applied by a plurality of elastic elements in a plurality of modules of a modular assembly arranged laterally across a width of the printing medium path, the modules disposed between the printing medium path and the plurality of elastic elements to prevent the elastic elements from contacting the printing medium, wherein the printing medium acts against the elastic forces of the respective elastic elements of the modular assembly. 
 
     
     
       16. The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein when a respective local tension force applied by the printing medium is larger than an elastic constant of a respective elastic element of the modular assembly, the elastic force of the respective elastic element is at least partially overcome. 
     
     
       17. The method as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein:
 the printing medium applies a tension force against the elastic forces; and 
 the elastic forces are applied in order to maintain a tension peak below a first threshold. 
 
     
     
       18. The method as claimed in  claim 15 , further comprising
 limiting the elastic force of the respective elastic elements to a second threshold using one or more stoppers included with corresponding ones of the modules.